Pakistani trade delegation here
A Pakistani trade delegation of fruit and vegetable producers and
exporters is visiting Sri Lanka to explore the ways and means to enhance
bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The participants of the delegation specialise in production and
export of various fruits and vegetables including guava, mango, citrus,
berry, potato, dry fruits, and fresh and dry dates. Faqir Nusrat Hussain
is leading the six-member delegation.Eager to reap the maximum benefits
from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the
delegation would explore the opportunities in the tea sector.
The delegation would visit Kandy to interact with the local Chamber
of Commerce, Tea Research Board and to visit tea factories and spice
gardens.
The delegation will hold meetings with Sri Lankan fruit and dry fruit
importers as well as other stakeholders to explore the possibilities of
enhancing bilateral trade.
The meetings would offer an opportunity to local businessmen to gain
awareness and knowledge about the prospects for expansion of the two-way
trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the fruit and vegetable sector.
Sri Lanka was the first country to sign an FTA with Pakistan.
Following the FTA's coming into operation in June 2005, bilateral
trade between the countries has been strengthened.
Pakistan has now become the second largest trade partner for Sri
Lanka in the South Asian region.
Pakistan exports fish, meat, vegetables, foliage, plants, sugar,
biscuits, pastry, cakes, mineral products, fibre boards, leather and
leather-based products, footwear, gems, jewellery, value-added copper
products, electrical items, bicycles, boats and floating structures.
There was a great demand for Pakistani produce such as cotton yarn,
fabrics, potatoes, pharmaceutical products, knitted or crocheted
fabrics, articles of iron and steel, galvanised pipes, rice, fish,
seafood, textile articles, apparel and clothing accessories and rods of
refined copper.
Under the FTA, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have agreed to offer
preferential market access to each other's exports by way of granting
tariff concessions. Sri Lanka is enabled to enjoy duty free market
access on 206 products in the Pakistani market, while Pakistan gained
duty free access on 102 products in the Sri Lankan market.
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